Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-06-29
From Washington.


Ex-senator John F. Lewis is here, and
has suffered the misfortune of losing the
sight of an eye. The affection came pain
lessly on, and he was not even aware OF the
loss until probably month after the eye
was blind. He is entirely we'll in other re-
spects, and as indomitable in spirit and as
graphic and outspoken in his opinion of
politics and public affairs as ever. The Ga
zette is apparently a favorite of the ex-Sena-
tor; it always treats kim fairly and it rarely
denies his views on current political themes.
To an inquiry after the political situation
in Virginia. the old war horse shOwed-much
of the vigor and FIRE of other days. He said:
"The republicans can hardly hope to carry
our State under existing circum Stances
With Malone not at their head, or absent
in Europe or some other far-of laud, they
might; but with six-years' Senatorship
depending, and Mahone's election to it the
main object of the campaign, the indolent
democrats will shake themselves up and
pitch in for victory"
Gazettc-sThen he is fine stimulant,
you think, for the democrats ?''
eyes; better than hop-bitters, iron and.
strychnine or any other tonic in the market
His hand, you know, was not in the last
fight for congressman at all, and the party
won good victory. He gave no money to
the election, had nothing to do with the
management of it, and go all the candidates
have told me. It's peculiar, but his ap-
pearance as the boss of our party fighting
against the democrats appears to act on
their rank and file just like red-rag when
shook at turkey gobbler."
Gazette-'Did you mean to say like red
flag when flashed in a bulls eye?"
IN T = kIex
key gobbler democracy. of Virginia with
up unless our plan of fight is changed from
what it is now understood to be-"
Gazette-'Is this opinion concarred in
by any of your other leaders p'
eyes, many of them. There is Sam.
Yost, for instance, who edits one Of the
ablest republican papers in the country. He
says we are beat if the campaign is run on
| the one-man idea, with boss-rule weighing
down the party. Malone has wonderful
brain, quick and comprehensive, with great
power of concentration, but he is too selfish
| and intolerant for a popular leader. In fact,
he is SO heartily hated by the democrats
that they are sure to turn out in Overwhelm-
ing force whenever he is personally and
eonspicuously to the front. p Wash. Cor.
of the ALer. Gazette.
Ex-senator John F. Lewis is bold and
frank man who speaks his views right
out, and it will be seen from what he says
that he and Yost and other Republicans
| wish to remand Malone to the shades of
obscurity, and fear that his participation in
the canvass of next Fall will ensure the vic
tory to the Democratic party. But Malone
is on the back of the Republican party Of
this State as the ''Old Man of the Sea" was
on that of 'Sinbad the Sailor" and he will
be much harder to get lid of, for he is de-
termined, if possible, to use the Republican
party as ladder to climb again into the
United States Senate for another six years.
term, aud he will ride that party if he
brushes it by the weight of his unpopular
| ity and tyrannous bossism, for he will rule
or ruin it, IS, like his distinguished proto-
type, he would "rather rule in hell than
serve i'll Heaven" Lewis, Yost, and other
Republicans may protest with yiger and
groan in anguish, but Malone will be their
leader all the same, and they will, however
reluctantly, obedisntly serve him.